The 16 Best Shows of Red Rocks 2016

The Red Rocks 2016 season came to a conclusion last night with Mac Miller’s Halloween on the Rocks. Announcements for the 2017 season have already begun leaving us with a stagnant excitement, and nothing better to do but transition into another seasonal Coloradan lifestyle with outdoor winter activities. It’s an unfortunate time for concert-goers in Denver but hey, it’s been a great run, right? This season at Red Rocks included some once-in-a-lifetime, legendary shows alongside many old favorites returning for their annual performances. 2016 showed us that the limitations of one of America’s most famous venues are truly boundless.

LCD Soundsytem

Photo by Ryan Good

Monsoon rains, high-force winds and even lightning could not wash away the fans at the LCD Soundsystem show at Red Rocks on August 4. After calling it quits five years ago, LCD Soundsystem confirmed a reunion tour with a much-anticipated Red Rocks stop – some fans even dubbed it the “show of the year” months in advance. Their infrequent appearances and performances perforated the show with a celebratory sensation, like a birthday or anniversary party. It was clear that five years had not marred the band’s ability to weave emotion and soul along the misrepresented label of dance music. Still, we can’t deny that the band’s poignant bullets make us dance. Murphy’s catalog of stories poured over fans as they swayed and shimmied across the stands. Sharing intimate, yet collective hits like “Dance Yrself Clean,” “All My Friends,” “Someone Great” and more, LCD connected life’s pain and hardship to art forms aimed at making it all feel better. It was difficult not to share an individual moment (or a few of them) with the band during their performance, but also to feel a part of something big and terrible and beautiful and unwavering, like the sea. – Alex Faubel

Sufjan Stevens

Photo by Meg O’Neill

Like many of his fans, I have been listening to Sufjan Stevens since my formative angsty teen years. But despite being a decade-long listener, I had never seen him live. When I finally had the chance this summer at Red Rocks, I was expecting his performance to reflect what I knew of him—emotional, raw, heart wrenching. I envisioned myself sitting at the show, and likely shedding a tear or two. But what I’d witnessed was one of the most explosively energetic and, quite frankly, bizarre shows I’ve ever seen in my life. Stevens appeared on stage dressed in neon workout clothes, a flat bill hat and a sweat band. The soulful, soft indie crooner I’d known looked like your average frat bro at an ‘80s college party—with one exception—he was wearing massive angel wings. I knew right then that everything I’d expected of Stevens was going to be torn to shreds—and it was. Within the first five minutes of the show, Stevens had smashed his banjo—signaling to the crowd that the melancholic singer you thought you’d knew was not coming that night. In his place, was a psychedelic, space-age rock star that at one point grew 15 feet tall (with the help of stilts) and wore a full-size disco ball as a necklace. But the best part was, the music was not superseded by the spectacle. Rather his energy, along with the full band and two incredible backup dancers, breathed new life into it. By the end of the performance, I realized that this is why you see live music. Because despite listening to his music for half of my life, this concert showed me more about an artist I truly loved in a way a record never could. – Brittany Werges

Dolly Parton

Photo by Kim Baker

Seeing Dolly Parton live from the ninth row at Red Rocks converted me. I showed up to the concert indifferent (if not a bit disgruntled by the treacherous traffic from the drive in) and was mostly looking forward to hearing “Jolene.” But after a few glittering hours of Dolly preaching kindness and singing sweetly, I was diminished to a teary-eyed and shameless fangirl. Dolly Parton portrays all that is right in the world. She’s the American dream, in the flesh. That country bumpkin turned superstar cracked jokes (mostly at her own expense) from under her pile of platinum hair, played ten different instruments and taught the crowd a thing or two about what it is to be a good person, the importance of treating each other with respect and, ultimately, how to make the world a better place. It was way more than I’d bargained for. – Allison Cohn

Griz

Right on the the heels of his latest album Good Will Prevail, Griz continues to show up and completely heat up Red Rocks to its core (quite literally). The fan base of this Boulder-based artist is stronger than ever, especially considering this was one of the first shows of 2016 at Red Rocks to sell out. Tickets sold out all the way back in April and the show wasn’t even until October. Griz kept heavy dubstep as tasteful as possible by blending it with funk, soul and hip-hop in a non-stop onslaught of musically charged dance tracks. All his supporting musicians brought something different to the table, such as the guitar riffs of Muzzy Bearr, the feel good trumpeting of Brasstracks and the epic voice of Ida Hawk. Neither Griz nor the people wanted the night to end as Griz played an even wilder after party at the Gothic Theatre into the wee hours of Sunday morning. Let’s hope for a two-night Red Rocks run from Griz in 2017. – Will Sheehan

Flaming Lips & The Colorado Symphony Orchestra

Photo by Jackie Collins.

With one of the most unique performances of the year, how could The Flaming Lips and The Colorado Symphony Orchestra not make our top 16? The eccentric rock group performed The Soft Bulletin in its entirety alongside over 100 of Colorado’s most talented musicians. When you pair all of that with the glory of Red Rocks, this was truly a once-in-a-lifetime performance – better yet, masterpiece. Frontman Wayne Coyne sported a light-up helmet and was draped in streams of migrating multicolored lights in a get-up comparable to some sort of cosmic Jesus. Not only was this a rare occurrence, this also wasn’t your typical Flaming Lips performance that would normally be loaded with vagina closeups and drugs. The band cleaned themselves up (a little bit) for this miraculous evening at Red Rocks. – Tyler Harvey

The Devil Makes Three

Photo by Lindsey Bartlett

With bluegrass coming through Colorado by the truck loads, The Devil Makes Three gave us something different at Red Rocks year. In this instance, the uniqueness came in the form of old-fashioned, foot-stomping blue grass, mixed with the modern jam style of live music that is so popular today. While some string bands are turning to a more simplistic and increasingly mainstream sound, this trio was able to keep the genres rawness while demanding non-stop dancing from start to finish. Even the humble sound of the band was surprisingly able to fill the entire amphitheater quite easily. In addition, the universally loved openers, The Wood Brothers and Shakey Graves, gave this show a solid spot on our list. – Will Sheehan

Flight of the Conchords

Photo by Kyle Cooper

Jethro Tull, Grateful Dead, The Beatles and many more iconic musical acts have graced the glorious platform that is Red Rocks Amphitheater. While one expects the venue to remain reserved for musicians of a certain hierarchy, other styles of harmonious creativity could be surprisingly fitting, which was proved this summer by the New Zealand sensation Flight of the Conchords. The hilarious twosome take their talent in harmony and mix it with goofy yet whit-filled lyrics. Their July 5 performance was one of the best of the summer, as they poked fun at cowboys, business times and the rowdiness of the crowd. Patrons wiped their laugh-induced tears during tracks like, “The Humans are Dead,” “Pencils in the Wind” and “Bowie in Space.” After a lengthy hiatus, the duo proved they have not lost any of their humorous ways, and definitely left the rows of the sold-out show yearning for more. – Denby Gardiner

420 Eve with Methodman and Redman

Photo by Josh Cowden

I made it to a ton of amazing Red Rocks shows this year, but nothing took the prize for best show like the epic lineup for 420 eve on the rocks. Hosted at Red rocks Amphitheatre on April 19, 2016, the talented lineup consisted of Jarren Benton, The Underachievers, Dizzy Wright, Stick figure, Joey Bada$$, Collie Buddz, and the headlining acts of Wu-Tang’s own Ghostface killah , Raekwon, and Redman and Method Man. Ghostface was unable to make it due to flight difficulties, but the show was still a success and managed to sell out Red Rocks for Denver’s biggest 4/20 pre game Celebration. The night produced a very diverse crowd, due to the combination of hip-hop and reggae acts making for a very unique experience. Instead of the normal typical crowd for the headliners, this concert consisted of people from all different walks of life and they all came together to celebrate the love of good music and marijuana. People were excited for each performer and each had their own respective cheering sections. From start to finish, the smoke never stopped and the show was fantastic, I look forward to seeing who they bring back for next year’s lineup. – Josh Cowden

Tame Impala

Photo by Glenn Ross

When it comes to picking out a favorite show at one of the most notorious and highly visited venues, Red Rocks does not make it easy. With a summer filled of amazing shows, when I think of a personal favorite, Tame Impala pops into my mind. Headlining Red Rocks for the first time, this was an incredible experience to share with the band and an excited sold-out crowd. Multiple times during the show, Kevin Parker would address the audience and glare out into the venue, citing the utter beauty and magic of this place. I personally had been chasing this booming Australian band for five years after the release of their iconic Innerspeaker album. Tame Impala catered their set for fans like myself, who are ecstatic about their new Currents album, but truly appreciate and love their earlier music. They played a mix of the old and the new, showcasing the band’s bright future, as well as highlighting their humble past. Tame Impala touched my soul, and reminded me how powerful live music can be, especially when the energy of the audience is matched by the band. – Michael Nickels

Disclosure

Photo by Danielle Webster

You don’t go seeing Disclosure wanting to have precise and pristine thoughts about the music in front of you. You see Disclosure to join in on a giant dance party filled with thousands of strangers all looking to get lost in a spiral of music. Their performance at Red Rocks this past summer was one of the first shows to open up the season – and it left the fans thirsting for a summer long adventure of music. Of course they payed a slew of hits that everyone could latch onto – “Magnets,” Omen” and “You & Me” made a colorful splash onto the screen and out through the speakers. Although the night was rainy, cloudy and a bit cold, the fever of music was felt warmly by the crowd. It was a beautiful night because of the friendliness that stemmed from everyone, you could easily drift from one group to another, turning strangers into your new besties for the night. Disclosure ended with “Moving Mountains” and Latch,” a prime way to say goodbye to the Rocks. – Taylor Heussner

Jason Isbell

Isbell is one of the best songwriters in music today, and one whose honesty weaves vivid stories that dive deep into the human condition, creating real connections in the music he sings. There was laughing, there was crying and everything else in between. There we were beneath the rock facades letting the music wash over us, and reflecting on the experiences that shaped our own lives through the scope of the many characters Jason would introduce to us. It was the kind of show that let the music speak, breathe and live a life of its own, and in turn, it was the kind of show that stuck with you days after – a reminder that we’re all trying to get through this thing called life. – Kori Hazel

Twenty One Pilots

Photo by Kiddest Metaferia

Best Red Rocks show for me was Twenty One Pilots. I was lucky enough to see them two years in a row at Red Rocks. I saw them grow up in just one quick year – their fans, the performance, their stage presence had matured. Both performers looked more comfortable than the year before. Their dynamic movements worked at utilizing the entire venue during the show – disappearing from sight only to reappear perched on the top of certain rocks all around the amphitheater. The best part was that the crowd was so thankful to have them back in Colorado for another successful show. Almost everyone stayed through a multiple song encore. Unconcerned with beating traffic and getting home on a school night, we just wanted to hear them play on. – Abigail Scott

Thievery Corporation

Photo by Will Sheehan

There may be some personal bias when it comes to choosing another favorite Red Rocks concert for the season, but Thievery Corporation’s show in May truly was one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. It was the Friday before my graduation from CSU, and I got to experience Red Rocks with my family. It was most of their first times at Red Rocks, and there’s nothing that compliments a show more than great company. I was a bit worried how they would accept Thievery’s chill and versatile show, but the depth of their set and beautiful moon-lit night of the early summer truly showcased both the band’s and venues glory. As I basked in the glory of finally seeing Thievery Corporation for the first time, I glanced over to see if my mom was enjoying, and let’s just say mom’s love Thievery Corporation too. Thievery’s set is always so unique, as it rotates different artists for each song they play. There were about 10 musicians on stage throughout the night, taking Red Rocks on a journey of music exploration that night. Most of my favorites were played that night, like “Lebanese Blonde” and “Sweet Tides.” Great company, a beautiful venue and awesome music was the best recipe for a good time. – Mike Nickels

Warren Haynes’ Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration

The Gov’t Mule frontman has made this collaboration a Red Rocks tradition. Scheduled each year on the day of Garcia’s passing, this show truly is a celebration of the life (and death) of an iconic musician. This year, fans were treated to not one or two, but three full sets of music dedicated to the music of a legend. Two sets with the Colorado Symphony, and a third set featuring members of the Jerry Garcia Band, including Melvin Seals. One might be skeptical of adding a full symphony in support of the Grateful Dead classics, but the resulting music is absolutely majestic.

Sia

Photo by James Dimagiba / SeriesFest

Seeing Sia at Red Rocks was more of a performance than a concert. Normally, seeing artists play without bands really grinds my gears (here’s lookin’ at you Kanye West and Buckethead). If it’s a DJ, that’s one thing (sort of), but to be a singer on stage, by yourself, with no backing band when there’s obviously music playing from somewhere always confuses me. Just, like, why? But when Sia stood up there on the Red Rocks stage, in the corner, alone, under that black and white wig with the comically large bow, she stole the show (but having a band still would’ve been cool.) Her haunting voice was absorbed by an oh-so silent audience, who were otherwise captivated by Maddie Ziegler’s nude bodysuits and frantic, grief-stricken choreography. Sia’s performance conveyed something deep, something lonely, something that spoke darkly of the human condition. While most shows leave you feeling giddy and lighthearted, I’m fairly certain everyone left the Sia show, went home and cried themselves to sleep.

Robert DeLong

Photo by Nick Annis

Up-and-coming electronic artist Robert DeLong opened Red Rocks for Tears for Fears in October with a high-octane energetic performance. For those of you unfamiliar with DeLong, I recommend taking the time to check him out–soon. The young musician is Seattle-born but a new resident to Denver, so we’ll be seeing much more of him soon. He’s already performed in Denver since Red Rocks, having just played a set at Punch Bowl Social on Halloween weekend. At Red Rocks, DeLong showed us his versatile skill set, not once taking an opportunity to stand still. DeLong produced the beats, played guitar and truly conquered the drum set(s). That all sounds typical in comparison to his other tools of instrumentation which consisted of Wii and Xbox remotes as well as computer joysticks. Did I mention he sings too? – Tyler Harvey